Latest news with #ZacAffleck
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What is ketamine therapy? Mormon reality stars tout controversial treatment
Season 2 of the reality show "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" depicted one couple — Jen and Zac Affleck — as they went through ketamine therapy, which they claimed saved their marriage. What is ketamine, and can it really benefit relationships? An anesthetic used to induce sleep before and after surgery, according to Cleveland Clinic, ketamine is also used illegally as a recreational drug. Fda Approves Opioid-free Pain Medication With 'No Sign Of Addiction' The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) describes ketamine as a "dissociative drug," meaning it causes people to feel "separated or detached" from their bodies or physical surroundings. In recent years, ketamine has been used as an alternative therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Read On The Fox News App "It can be a party drug, and it can be abused, but I think if you have the right intention and you do it in the proper setting with a doctor, it can be super impactful," Zac Affleck said in an interview with Women's Health. As far as personal beliefs, "there's nothing in the Mormon guidelines that says you can't do ketamine, but it's in the gray area," Affleck added. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a derivative of ketamine in a nasal spray format (Spravato, or S-ketamine) for treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation. Some clinical studies have shown that ketamine therapy can be effective in treating severe depression in veterans. "Ketamine acts like an antidepressant that can help distract someone from negative thoughts and feelings in a relatively short amount of time," Rolando Larice, M.D., medical director at Sana Lake Recovery in Missouri, told Fox News Digital. Ketamine Therapy Shown Effective In Treating Severe Depression In Veterans, Study Finds The drug is believed to create more connections between brain cells, a process thought to ease depression and decrease suicidal thoughts, according to Mayo Clinic. Dr. Justin Gerstner, psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Ellie Mental Health in Minnesota, previously told Fox News Digital that he uses ketamine therapy in his own practice. "It's been quite transformative for a lot of our clients," he said. Gerstner's practice usually administers ketamine to clients via IV injection in two- to three-hour sessions, partnered with psychotherapy before and after treatment. It is intended to be used in combination with antidepressant pills only under the supervision of a medical professional. At high doses, the drug can cause adverse health issues that affect cardiovascular, respiratory and neurologic function, which can be fatal, said the American Addiction Centers website. Elon Musk Reveals Why He Takes Ketamine, Denies Abusing The Drug: 'I Should Keep Taking It' Some risks include elevated blood pressure, difficulty breathing, amnesia, seizures, addiction, problems with judgment and coordination, and a lower urinary tract irritation called ulcerative cystitis, according to the same source. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Common causes of overdose death include excess sedation, respiratory failure, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, coma and seizures," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical advisor, previously told Fox News Digital. Larice cautioned that ketamine does carry a risk of addiction or dependency. While ketamine IV therapy could be an alternative option if other treatments haven't been effective for mental health conditions, experts urge caution. "People may see celebrities like Jen Affleck make claims that ketamine therapy saved her marriage, but if it's shown as a quick fix to solve all of your problems rather than a step toward healing, that's when it can be dangerous," Larice cautioned. For more Health articles, visit It is important for the IV treatment to be monitored by medical professionals in case dangerous side effects occur, he said. Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed article source: What is ketamine therapy? Mormon reality stars tout controversial treatment
Fox News
25-05-2025
- Health
- Fox News
What is ketamine therapy? Mormon reality stars tout controversial treatment
Season 2 of the reality show "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" depicted one couple — Jen and Zac Affleck — as they went through ketamine therapy, which they claimed saved their marriage. What is ketamine, and can it really benefit relationships? An anesthetic used to induce sleep before and after surgery, according to Cleveland Clinic, ketamine is also used illegally as a recreational drug. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) describes ketamine as a "dissociative drug," meaning it causes people to feel "separated or detached" from their bodies or physical surroundings. In recent years, ketamine has been used as an alternative therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). "It can be a party drug, and it can be abused, but I think if you have the right intention and you do it in the proper setting with a doctor, it can be super impactful," Zac Affleck said in an interview with Women's Health. As far as personal beliefs, "there's nothing in the Mormon guidelines that says you can't do ketamine, but it's in the gray area," Affleck added. In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a derivative of ketamine in a nasal spray format (Spravato, or S-ketamine) for treatment-resistant depression and suicidal ideation. Some clinical studies have shown that ketamine therapy can be effective in treating severe depression in veterans. "Ketamine acts like an antidepressant that can help distract someone from negative thoughts and feelings in a relatively short amount of time," Rolando Larice, M.D., medical director at Sana Lake Recovery in Missouri, told Fox News Digital. The drug is believed to create more connections between brain cells, a process thought to ease depression and decrease suicidal thoughts, according to Mayo Clinic. Dr. Justin Gerstner, psychiatrist and chief medical officer at Ellie Mental Health in Minnesota, previously told Fox News Digital that he uses ketamine therapy in his own practice. "It's been quite transformative for a lot of our clients," he said. One practice administers ketamine to clients via IV injection, partnered with psychotherapy. Gerstner's practice usually administers ketamine to clients via IV injection in two- to three-hour sessions, partnered with psychotherapy before and after treatment. It is intended to be used in combination with antidepressant pills only under the supervision of a medical professional. At high doses, the drug can cause adverse health issues that affect cardiovascular, respiratory and neurologic function, which can be fatal, said the American Addiction Centers website. Some risks include elevated blood pressure, difficulty breathing, amnesia, seizures, addiction, problems with judgment and coordination, and a lower urinary tract irritation called ulcerative cystitis, according to the same source. "Common causes of overdose death include excess sedation, respiratory failure, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, coma and seizures," Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News' senior medical advisor, previously told Fox News Digital. Larice cautioned that ketamine does carry a risk of addiction or dependency. While ketamine IV therapy could be an alternative option if other treatments haven't been effective for mental health conditions, experts urge caution. "People may see celebrities like Jen Affleck make claims that ketamine therapy saved her marriage, but if it's shown as a quick fix to solve all of your problems rather than a step toward healing, that's when it can be dangerous," Larice cautioned. For more Health articles, visit It is important for the IV treatment to be monitored by medical professionals in case dangerous side effects occur, he said. Fox News Digital's Melissa Rudy contributed reporting.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' Jen Affleck makes shock marriage revelation
The Secret Lives of Mormon of Wives is already bringing drama and the second season doesn't premiere until next week. When season one ended last year, Jen Affleck, 25, and her husband Zac Affleck, 28, were the talk of the town, not just because of his 'disrespect' towards his wife, but also because he falsely kept claiming he was related to Ben Affleck. Jan revealed she and Zac separated shortly after season one ended, which is where viewers will find them in season two - living apart and going to therapy. 'Just because of everything that we went through last year and because of everything we've had to do so much therapy,' she explained to People. As for living apart, the soon-to-be mom of three said, 'It's all a blessing in disguise, but I definitely think it is daunting coming back to MomTok because we have gone through so much being a part of it,' Jen said. 'But again, we're learning so much on the way, so only taking the positives right now.' Zac and Jen are still figuring out their marriage and for the moment at least, Zac has put medical school in Arizona on the back burner. 'He still hasn't officially decided,' she said of whether he'll continue down that path. 'He still has about five months to decide, but as of right now, I think his priority is just supporting me and so I guess we'll see,' she told the outlet. While in therapy, the couple tried ketamine and Jen called it a 'life changer.' 'Definitely life changing — and I never thought I would try ketamine,' she told Us Weekly. 'But when you're looking for anything to help you try anything.' After she and Zac moved from Utah to Arizona, she wasn't feeling well and checked into a wellness center. 'Spent 11 days away from my loved ones, focusing on healing and working through my trauma,' Jen wrote via her Instagram Story in March. 'It was definitely one of the most challenging and impactful experiences I've ever had. Not the pregnancy journey I expected, but definitely what baby and I needed.' When season one ended last year, Jen, 25, and Zac, 28, were the talk of the town, not just because of his 'disrespect' towards his wife, but also because he falsely kept claiming he was related to Ben Affleck The couple are living apart while expecting their third child together. They are already parents to a 22-month-old son named Lucas and a 3-year-old daughter named Nora who were 'beyond excited' to hear the news. The couple shared the news of their upcoming new bundle of joy in February. Jen said she was surprised to learn of her pregnancy: 'I was a few days late, and while it was a surprise, we both had a feeling there was another baby waiting for us,' told People. 'We were very excited, there were a lot of emotions after a very crazy year!,' Jen said. While they do not know the sex of their third child just yet, Jen senses they are having a girl. 'I have a strong feeling it's a girl,' she explained. 'I've dreamed about this little girl for a while now, and I truly believe she's the one I'm carrying.' Jen called having a big family a 'dream.' The star, who has two siblings of her own, said: 'Having been raised with numerous foster kids, I've always dreamed of a big family, and seeing that dream come true is both exciting and fulfilling. 'It can be daunting to think about raising three babies while pursuing my career, but I want to show women and mothers that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, no matter how unrealistic it may seem,' she said. Coincidentally, Jen is not the only woman in her family expecting a child - her sister is also now pregnant. 'My sister also recently found out she's pregnant after many years of trying with IVF, so we couldn't be more excited to embark on this journey together,' she said.
